Trouble light



TROUBLE LIGHT Pete Lieuwen, New Holland, S. Dak. Application February 7, 1956, Serial No. 564,006 4 Claims. Cl. 240-54 This invention relates to improvements in trouble lights and particularly to hangers for such lights.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved trouble light by having the hanger, usually a hook, at the top of the lamp guard arranged such that the lamp guard is capable of being swivelled in order to direct the light rays to the proper place without changing the position of the hook.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved hanger for a trouble light which is flexible so that when the trouble light is inadvertently struck the hanger will flex instead of bend or break. This will not only prevent damage to the trouble light but will also prolong the life of the lamp therein since the lamp will not be subjected to such severe oscillations.

One of the more important objects of this invention is to provide a safety feature in the suspension of a trouble light or similar lamp by having a fully insulating cou pling for the hook and guard. When working near or with high tension wires, bus bars or the like, this is of high importance inasmuch as accidents involving high voltage burns or shocks are usually caused by inadvertence not directly attributable to the electrician but rather, attributable to unexpected and unanticipated events such as the transmission of high voltage electrical energy through the hook to the guard.

A further object of the invention is to provide a practical trouble light which has the above features and attains the above objects, the trouble light being practical in that it is not incumbered by complicated mechanical construction details but rather, achieves the desired results by the utilitization of mechanically simple parts connected together by practical machine operations.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary perspective view of a trouble light which typifies an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the hanger construction for the trouble light;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a spring metal collar used in a modification of the invention; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the collar of Figure 4, the collar being mounted on the resilient sleeve of the trouble light.

The trouble light consists of a lamp socket 12 having a collar 14 at one end thereof and a light bulb 16 disposed therein. This collar supports a wire guard 18 in which there is a light reflector 20, the latter being located on one side of the light bulb 16 in order to direct the light rays outwardly in one direction from the light bulb.

itc States O the sleeve 24 and coincident with the longitudinal axis thereof. It is preferred that shank 28 be approximately rectangular in cross section and tapered outwardly as it approaches the bottom 30 thereof. Accordingly the hook 26 is mounted in sleeve 24 in such manner that it cannot rotate. To further ensure that there will be no rotation of hook 26, clamp, or collar 32, is on the sleeve 24, this collar having ends 34 and 36 that have aligned openings therein. Means for drawing the ends 34 and 36 toward each other and hence tightening the collar 32 on the sleeve 24, are mounted in these aligned apertures. Preferably, the means comprise a bolt 38 with a nut thereon.

The sleeve 24 is attached to the wire guard 18 by having a spindle 42 welded or otherwise rigidly fixed to one or more of the wire members of guard 18 or to the reflector body. The outer end of the spindle 42 has an enlargement 44 which is in bore 46 of sleeve 24. This bore is coincident with the longitudinal axis of the sleeve 24 and has enlargement 44 fitted very tightly therein. The lower surface of enlargement 44 has its lower shoulders cut square (Figure 2) so that it forms its own seat in sleeve 24 making it virtually impossible to pull out. In order to assure that there will be no unwanted rotation of the guard 20 with respect to the sleeve 24, a clamp, as collar 48, is disposed on the sleeve and has its ends 47 and 49 brought toward each other to squeeze the collar tightly against the sleeve 24. Bolt 50 is passed through aligned apertures in ends 47 and 49 and a nut 51 is on the bolt. By tightening collar 48 the lamp is maintained in adjustment through a friction brake action formed by collar 48 applying pressure on sleeve 24 that squeezes against spindle 42. The brake pressure is selected by means of bolt 50.

The same braking action may be obtained by using a split, spring steel (or equivalent) material clamp, for example collar 54, on sleeve 24. The inherent elasticity of collar 54 keeps a non-adjustable, constant pressure applied to the periphery of sleeve 24 to obtain the friction brake action described previously.

In use the trouble light 10 is hung by hook 26 over a convenient member. Then, the light is adjusted by rotating the guard and socket, thus rotating the spindle 42 in the bore of sleeve 24. At all times during the use of the trouble light, it is safe from electrical transmission through hook 26 inasmuch as the sleeve 24 fully insulates it from the guard 18. If the trouble light is struck, there is enough inherent flexure in sleeve 24 to bend and contort so that the trouble light rides with the shock rather than becomes bent or broken.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and de scribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A trouble light comprising a lamp socket and a wire guard, a spindle fixed to said guard and protruding therefrom, a resilient sleeve having a bore in which said spindle is mounted for swivel movement, a hook secured in said sleeve and spaced from said spindle so that the sleeve provides an insulative isolation between said hook and said spindle, and means including a clamp for pressing said sleeve tightly against said spindle in order to prevent inadvertent movement of said spindle with respect to said sleeve.

2. The trouble light of claim 1 wherein said spindle has an enlargement at one end located in said bore and said hook has a shank with at least a part that is noncircular in cross-section located in said bore in order to aid in holding said spindle and said hook assembled with said resilient sleeve.

3. The trouble light of claim 1 wherein said clamp includes an arcuate collar which is disposed on said resilient sleeve.

4. In a lamp guard that has a light reflector therein, a hanger assembly for the guard which supports the guard for swivel adjustmentso that the light rays may be directed toward selected areas, said hanger assembly comprising an electrically insulative flexible member, a hook secured to said member, and means carried by said member and electrically insulated from said hook for attaching said member to the guard and including a spindle having an enlargement at one end, said insulative member having a bore accommodating said spindle and said enlargement, a clamp encircling said member, and means for drawing said clamp tightly against said memher to hold said member fastened to said spindle.

McConnell et a1. Oct. 5, 1954 Becker Aug. 30, 1955 

